Device for hydraulically or pneumatically controlling reciprocating movements of an operative means



R. JOHANSSON 3,216,327 CALLY OR PNEUMATICALLY CONTROLLING RECIPROCATING MOVEMENTS OF AN OPERATIVE MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 9, 1965 DEVICE FOR HYDRAULI Wf/ f/7/ INVENTOR John R. Johansson N v- 9 1 65 J. R. JOHANSSON 3,216,327

DEVICE FOR HYDRAULICALLY OR PNEUMATIC/ALLY CONTROLLING RECIPROCATING MOVEMENTS OF AN OPERATIVE MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

2 3 LL MW 6 h 11 m n/u W 3 e S 6 Nb A s N 1965 J. R. JOHANSSON DEVICE FOR HYDRAULICALLY OR PNEUMATICALLY CONTROLLING RECIPROCATING MOVEMENTS OF AN OPER Filed Sept. 25, 1965 INVENTOR.

1965 J. R. JOHANSSON 3,216,327

DEVICE FOR HYDRAULICALLY 0R PNEUMATICALLY CONTROLLING RECIPROCATING MOVEMENTS OF AN OPERATIVE MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VENTOR.

United States Patent DEVICE 1 0R HYDRAULICALLY 0R PNEU- MATICALLY CONTROLLING RECIPROCAT- ING MOVEMENTS OF AN OPERATIVE MEANS John R. Johansson, Utlandagatan 29, Goteborg, Sweden Filed Sept. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 311,563

Claims priority, application Sweden, Sept. 28, 1962,

10,429/62 v 9 Claims. (Cl. 9150) This invention has reference to a device for initiating hydraulically or pneumatically, the reciprocating movemefits of an operative means in a rammer or a beater, a pile driver, a pump piston in a water pump or a jack. The main feature of the invention is a slide which is movable together with the operative means by the action of the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure medium, in a pressure chamber enclosed between a piston, the slide and the operative means and in a stop means for arresting the slide before the operative means has completed its movement in one direction so as to open a passage for pressure medium between the slide and the operative means so as to reduce the pressure in the pressure chamber.

The invention can be carried into eflect in rammers, stamp hammers or other devices whereas the operative means comprises the drop body of the machine.

The invention can further be carried into effect in piston pumps for water. In such a case the operative means should be shaped at its lower end with a chamber with a valve adapted to be opened by the pressure of the water below the operative means at the movement downwards by said means so that water can flow into the receiver, but to be closed when the operative means is moved upwards. The invention can also be carried into effect in jacks. In this case the working means is provided with a driver for engagement with a rack or a similar means and at the upward movement of the operative means to bring along said rack, the device also comprising in a way known per se a catch for retaining the rack in lifted position when the operative means is lowered for the subsequent working cycle.

An example of a machine in accordance with the invention will not be described with reference to the accompanying, partly diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the drop body of a rammer having a device according to the invention, showing the drop body in the lower operative position,

FIG. 2 shows a similar longitudinal section (the upper portion omitted) with a drop body in lifted position,

FIG. 3 shows an axial section through the slide, the latter being provided with an adjustable stop for changing the drop distance of the drop body,

FIG. 4 shows a section similar to the one in FIG. 2 but according to another embodiment of a means for bringing along the slide to its upper position,

FIG. 5 shows the same driver in a position for releasing the slide,

FIG. 6 shows a vertical longitudinal section through a piston pump for hauling a liquid, e.g. water, said pump being provided with a device according to the invention, and

FIG. 7 is a partly cut vertical elevation of a jack having a device according to the invention.

A.Th'e invention carried into efie'ct in rammers or similar bearers It is shown in FIGS. l5 how the invention with advantage can be carried into elfect in rammers or pile drivers for driving concrete piles down into the soil for the reinforcement of foundations.

A carrying cylinder 2 which hangs on a steel wire 1, houses an axially movable drop body 3. The carrying cylinder 2 is provided at its lower end with a guiding sleeve 4 for the upper end of the concrete pile 5. Above the upper bottom 6 of the carrying cylinder 2, there is arranged a pump chamber 8 covered by a cap 7 and housing a hydraulic pump 10 driven by an electric motor 9 and a receiver 11 for the pressure medium, e.g. oil. The steel wire 1 is attached to the upper end of a rod 12 which at its lower end is shaped as a piston 13 enclosed in a slide 14 which is axially movable on said piston 13. According to the embodiment shown in FIGS 1 and 2, the slide 14 is provided at the upper end with an inwardly directed flange "15 and at the lower end with a stop means 16 comprising a pin for abutment against a flange 17 at the lower end of the piston when the slide 14 is moved upwards as will be described in detail below. The drop body 3 is provided with an axial chamber 18 closed at its upper end by a lid 19 the latter provided at its outer and inner peripheries with seal rings 20, 21'.- The slide 14 is shaped .as a hollow cylinder and is completely enclosed in the chamber 18, the latter being almost completely filled up with pressure liquid. The rod 12 is provided with two bores 22, 23 one of which is connected at its upper end, through a conduit 24, to the pressure side of the pump and at its lower end discharge through channels 25, 25' in a pressure chamber 26 formed by the piston 13, the slide 14 and the lid 19 when the drop body 3 is in its lower position. The other bore extends by means of an elongation tube 27, preferably manufactured from an elastic material, down to the chamber 18 and is connected at its upper end through a conduit 28 to the pressure medium receiver 11. The latter is connected to the suction side of the pump 10.

A bufler spring 30 in inserted between the piston -13 and the flange 15, the latter is provided at its upper end with a seal ring 29.

The cylinder bottom 6 is provided with ports 31 (only one shown in the drawing) having a seat 32 on which a valve having a valve spindle 33, provided at its lower end with a valve body 34 shaped in correspondence with the seat 32. A helical spring 36 is arranged between a washer 35 at the upper end of the valve spindle 33 and the bottom 6. The spring 36 presses the valve body 34 against the seat 32.

The device operates in the following manner. When the carrying cylinder 2 on the wire 1 has been lowered to the upper end of the concrete pile 5 so that the lower cylinder bottom 37 rests on the pile end, the motor 9 is started and the pump will then work continuously. Pressure oil is then applied to the pressure chamber 26 which causes the drop body 3 to .be lifted together with the slide 14. Upon the lifting of the drop body 3 the air is compressed in the space 38 above the lid 19 as the valve 34 is closed. When the pin 16 abuts the flange 17 on the piston 13, the latter is stopped in its upward movement and thus a passage 39 (FIG. 2) is formed for the pressure oil due to the continued upward movement of the drop body 3 a short distance. The pres sure reduction thereby caused in the chamber 26 makes the slide 14 drop immediately under the action of its own weight and is stopped in the lower position by the buffer 36. A heavy stroke or impact does not occur. Since the width of the passage 39 is increasing due to the downward movement of the slide 14, the pressure in the chamber 26 is further reduced. The weight of the drop body 3 assisted by the pressure of the well compressed air in the space 38 above the lid 19, causes the drop body to be pressed downwardly with a considerable force. When the drop body 3 with the lid 19 reaches the ring flange 15, oil cannot further escape from the pressure chamber 26. The force occurring upon arresting the downward movement of the drop body 3 is thus absorbed by the liquid in the pressure chamber 26 and thus there does not occur any disturbing blow. The pressure force is transmitted by the piston 13, the piston rod 12 with its ring flange 14 at the upper end, the cylinder bottom 6, the carrying cylinder 2 and the cylinder bottom 37 to the concrete pile 5. The latter has, before the occurring of the jerk, been exposed to a load caused by the weight of the whole carrying cylinder 2 with the piston 13, the piston rod 12 and the hydraulic machine aggregate which means that the pressure jerk from the drop body 3 will have a good effect simultaneously as the pressure blow will be soft and thus not cause any damage on the pile.

As shown with dash and dot lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 the wall of the carrying cylinder may be provided with ports 41, 42. Some of these ports can be closed by screw plugs 43. It is thereby possible to control the quantity of air, and thus also the compression, in the space 38 at the upper end of the carrying cylinder 2. It is possible to obtain such a pressure control also by shaping the valve 34 in such a way that it closes only when the drop body 3 has been lifted to a certain level.

If there is any need of control of the height the drop body 3 falls this can, in a simple way, be carried out by an adjustment of the stop means 16 on the slide 14. As shown in FIG. 3 an adjustable stop means comprises a disk 44 attached to the lower end of a spindle 45 which extends through the rod 12 and can be screwed up or down on the lower end of the slide 14. When the disk 44 is screwed upwards it will abut sooner against the flange 17 which thereby reduces the lifting height (falling height) of the drop body 3. The result will be the opposite one when the abutment disk 44 is screwed and moved downwardly on the slide 14. The adjustment of the position of the abutment disk 44 can be carried out from the ground by means of a tow rope laid over a pulley with a worm screw (not shown) at the upper end of the spindle 45.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the cylinder 14 is lifted by the liquid pressure in the pressure chamber 26 directed towards the other side of the flange 15. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and the slide 14 has no such inward flange and therefor there is required a special driver for bringing along the slide in the upward movement of the drop body 3. This driver comprises according to the shown embodiment a catch 46 which by the action of a helical spring 47 can be swung with its lower end, shaped as a hook 48, so as to snap in below the outwards directed flange 49 on the slide 14. A rod-shaped releaser 50 can be used for swinging aside the catch 46 against the action of the spring 47 for releasing the slide 14 just before the drop body 3 reaches its upper position. A helical spring 52 is arranged between a shoulder 51 on the lower end of the slide 14 and the piston 13'.

The action of this device is obvious from the above description with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. When oil under pressure is applied to the pressure chamber 26, the drop body 3 is lifted in the way described in the aforegoing. Due to the catch 46 journalled on the lid 19 and catching with its hook 48 under the flange 49 the drop body brings along the slide 14'. As soon as the releaser 50 abuts against the cylinder bottom 6, the slide 14 is released by means of the swinging aside of the catch 46, and the slide 14 is by the spring 52 quickly brought to return to the lower position. Due to the passage 39 which hereby is freed for the passage of pressure oil there is obtained a pressure reduction in the chamber 26 and the drop body 3 falls. In the lower position the catch 46 snaps with its hook 48 again under the flange 49 and the operation cycle is repeated.

B.The invention carried into efiecz at a piston pump In the rammer described in the aforegoing the operative means proper of the machine comprises the drop body 3. When the invention is to be carried out in a piston pump (FIG. 6) the operative means comprises a piston 53 shaped as a receiver, said piston adapted to perform a movement up and down in a tube 54 having an outlet tube 55. The receiver is axially movable on the rod 12 and the slide 14 is movable on the piston 13 on said rod 12 in the way described in the aforegoing. The receiver 53 which is filled with a pressure medium, carries at its lower portion, by means of tow rods 56, a bottom 57 with a central flow opening 58 shaped with a seat 59 and a spherical tightening body 60 of a somewhat elastic material rests against this seat. The bottom 57 is provided at the outer periphery with a seal ring 61. The lower end of the tube 54 is also provided with a bottom 62 with a central flow opening 63 shaped with a seat 64 against which a spherical tightening body 65, preferably comprising a somewhat elastic material rests or seats. The tube 54 can be immersed in a well 66.

When the piston 53 in the way described in connection with the drop body 3 is forced to perform a movement up and down, water is sucked into the chamber 66 in the same way as when using a common water piston pump. When the bottom 57 is provided with a tightening body 60, a vacuum is created in the space 67 between the bottoms 57 and 62. Water is then taken from the well 66 through the opening 63 into space 67. When the water level is sufliciently high in the space 67, it is at the movement downwards of the piston 53 with the bottom 57, discharged through the opening 58 into a chamber 68 above the bottom 57. When the bottom thereupon is lifted and the tightening body 60 abuts against the seat 59, the water above the bottom 57 is lifted out through the outlet tube 55.

The pump may of course be used also for handling any other liquid than water. It is also possible to use this device for pumping air or any other gas.

C.The invention carried into effect in jacks In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 receiver 53', serves as the operating means and is provided with a catch 70 journalled about a horizontal bolt 69 and serving as a driver. The catch 70 has a free upper end adapted to snap into the gap 71 between two teeth in a rack 72 which is vertically movable in a stand 73 serving as a guide. A latch 75, serving as a lock, is journalled about a horizontal bolt 74 on the stand 73. The latch has its upper free end adapted to snap into an opposing gap 76 in the rack 72. The rack 72 is provided with a bracket 77 or the like for carrying the object 78 to be lifted by the jack.

When the receiver 53' is lifted together with the slide 14 in the way described in the aforegoing, also the rack 72 is lifted due to the driver catch 70. When the operating means 53' has reached its upper end position and thereupon is allowed to drop, the latch 75 is swung by the action of a spring 79 with its free end in the opposing rack gap 76 and retains thereby the rack 72 in lifted position. In the lower position of the operating means 53 the driver latch 70 snaps, due to the action of the spring 80, its free end into the opposing gap in the rack and the operation cycle is repeated. At each movement up and down by the operative means 53' the rack 72 is thus lifted a distance corresponding to the lift movement of the operative means.

The shown and described embodiments are to be regarded as examples only and the different details of the device may be constructively modified in many ways within the scope of the invention. The pump 10 can be arranged elsewhere than as shown in FIG. 1. As an example may be mentioned that the pump can be arranged in or below the piston 13. Further, the hydraulic aggregate does not have to be arranged in or on the carrying cylinder 2 but a pressure medium can be fed to the device by means of a pressure tube from an aggregate on the soil, and the pressure medium must then also be returned by means of a pressure conduit.

The driver shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 adapted to force the slide 13 to follow the drop body 3 in its upward movement may be replaced by a driver means of another construction. This means may e.g. comprise a number annularly arranged magnets on the lid 19, said magnets comprising preferably permanent magnets attracting the slide 14 such that the upper flange 49 of the same is pressed tightening against the other side of the lid 19 during the upward movements of the drop body 3 until the upward movements of the slide 14' is stopped by an arresting means, e.g. the abutment pin 16 according to FIG. 1, while the drop body continues its upward movement so as to form the passage 39 and the pressure drop in the chamber 26 caused hereby.

The invention may also be applied for the extracting of iron and wood sheet piles from the ground when these piles have served the purpose of retaining the earth material at excavations.

For the sake of completeness it shall finally be mentioned that it is also possible to arrange the unit so to say upside down, i.e. in such a way that the cylinder bottom 6 will be turned downwards and the piston rod 12 with the piston 13 directed upwards. In such a case a helical spring should be inserted between the lid 19 and the receiver bottom 6, said spring being so strong that, when there is no notable pressure in the pressure chamber 26, it is able to retain the operative means 3 which in this case may have the shape of a receiver 53, in an upper position with its lid 19 pressed tightening against the flange 15 (FIG. 1) or 49 (FIG. 5) of the slide 14. When the liquid pressure in the pressure chamber 26 thereupon increases, the operative means 3 with a slide 14 is pressed downwards against the action of said helical spring until the slide is arrested by the abutment pin 16 and at a continued movement of the operative means downwards the passage 39 is created so that the pressure is reduced in the pressure chamber 26. Due to a spring, cf. the spring 52 in the FIG. 5, the slide is thereupon returned to its upper position and the spring between the bottom 6 and the lid 19 returns the operative means 3 to its upper initial position and a new operative cycle is started.

Instead of shaping the arresting means, e.g. the disk 44 (FIG. 3) adjustable axially on the slide, the abutment flange 17 (or a similar abutment means) can be axially movable on the piston 13 for changing the stroke movement of the operative means 3.

The hydraulic aggregate may be replaced by a pneumatic aggregate.

The present invention can be applied in other connection than the one described in the aforegoing.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus, in combination, means defining a first cylinder, operative means in said first cylinder for reciprocable movement therein, said operative means comprising means defining a cylinder therein, a piston reciprocable in said second cylinder, piston rod means connected to said piston for connection of said piston externally of the operative means, a sleeve-shaped slide in said second cylinder, said piston being disposed in said slide, said sleeve, said piston and said operative means defining a pressure chamber internally of said sleeve for applying pressure therein principally in a direction for imparting movement in a given direction to said operative means, said operative means being biased in a direction opposite to said given direction, means to apply fluid under pressure to said pressure chamber to apply pressure principally to said pressure chamber in said given direction to move said operative means, and said slide relative to said piston, means to arrest the movement of said slide during travel in said given direction while said operative means continues its movement in said given direction thereby to progressively place said pressuf chamber in communication with said second cylinder to reduce the pressure in said pressure chamber sufiiciently for said operative means to move in the opposite direction when the pressure in said pressure chamber is reduced to a given pressure level, and means to exhaust the fluid from said second cylinder.

2. In an apparatus, in combination, casing means defining a first cylinder, operative means in said first cylinder for reciprocable movement therein, said operative means comprising means defining a cylinder therein, a piston reciprocable in said second cylinder, piston rod means connected to said piston for connection of said piston externally of said casing means, a sleeve-shaped slide in said second cylinder, said piston being disposed in said slide, said sleeve, said piston and said operative means defining a pressure chamber internally of said sleeve for applying pressure therein principally in a direction for imparting movement upwardly to said operative means, means to apply fluid under pressure to said pressure chamber to apply pressure principally in a direction to move said operative means, and said slide in an upward direction and relative to said piston, means to arrest the movement of said slide in said upward direction while said operative means continues its movement in said upward direction thereby to move said operative means relative to said sleeve-shaped slide to progressively place said pressure chamber in communication with said second cylinder to reduce the pressure in said pressure chamber sufliciently for at least gravity to move said operative means in the opposite direction when the pressure in said pressure chamber is reduced to a given pressure level, means to exhaust the fluid from said second cylinder, and said sleeve-shaped slide, said piston and operative means are disposed to redefine said pressure chamber when said operative means moves to a given point in said opposite direction, whereby said operative means is cyclically lifted and dropped under control of application of said pressure fluid.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said first cylinder has a greater axial length than said operative means and contains a compressible medium, whereby when said operative means is moved upwardly said gaseous medium is compressed and applies pressure to said operative means in a direction for moving it an opposite direction than said upward direction.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, including a guide sleeve extension extending parallel to said piston for receiving a pile therein.

5. In a pile driver, in combination, casing means defining a first cylinder, hammer means in said first cylinder for reciprocable movement therein, said hammer means comprising means defining a cylinder therein, a piston reciprocable in said second cylinder, piston rod means connected to said piston for connection of said piston externally of the casing means, a sleeve-shaped slide in said second cylinder, said piston being disposed in said slide, said sleeve, said piston and said hammer means cyclically operable to positions defining a pressure chamber internally of said sleeve for applying pressure therein principally in a direction for imparting movement upwardly to said hammer means, means to apply fluid under pressure to said pressure chamber to apply pressure principally in one direction to move said hammer means, and said slide in an upward direction and relative to said piston, means to arrest the movement of said slide in said one direction while said hammer means continues its movement in said upward direction thereby to move said hammer means to progressively place said pressure chamber in communication with said second cylinder to reduce the pressure in said pressure chamber sufliciently for at least gravity to move said hammer means in the opposite direction when the pressure in said pressure chamber is reduced to a given pressure level, and means to exhaust the fluid from said second cylinder, whereby said operative means is cyclically lifted and dropped as said pressure chamber is defined and redefined cyclically in response to application of said pressure and the relative positions of said hammer means, said piston and said slide.

6. In an apparatus, in combination, casing means defining a first cylinder, operative means in said first cylinder for reciprocable movement therein, said operative means comprising means defining a cylinder therein, a piston reciprocable in said second cylinder, piston rod means connected to said piston for connection of said piston externally of the casing means, a sleeve-shaped slide in said second cylinder, said piston being disposed in said slide, said sleeve, said piston and said operative means being disposed for jointly cyclically defining a pressure chamber internally of said sleeve for applying pressure fluid therein principally in a direction for imparting movement to said operative means, means to apply fluid under pressure to said pressure chamber to apply pressure principally in one direction to move said operative means, and said slide in said one direction and relative to said piston, means to arrest the movement of said slide in said one direction while said operative means continues its movement in said upward direction thereby to move said operative means to progressively place said pressure chamber in communication with said second cylinder to reduce the pressure in said pressure chamber sufficiently for at least gravity to move said operative means in the opposite direction when the pressure in said pressure chamber is reduced to a given pressure level, and means to exhaust the fluid from said second cylinder, whereby said operative means is cyclically reciprocated.

8. In an apparatus according to claim 7, in which said casing comprises a one-Way valve for taking in a fluid into said first cylinder, and including a pump member connected to said operative means axially spaced from said operative means, a one-way valve on said pump member reciprocably driven by said operative means for taking a suction on fluid in said first cylinder when said operative means moves in a direction opposite to said one direction and delivering the fluid to a discharge port, means on said casing defining a discharge port.

9. In an apparatus according to claim 6, including a gear rack driven by said operative means during cyclical movement thereof, means connected to said gear rack for connection externally of said casing for cyclically driving an element, connected thereto externally of said casing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,042,094 10/ 12 Demmler 91216 1,593,606 7/26 Slater 91-276 X 2,131,815 10/38 Nilson 254-108 X 2,163,982 6/39 Merceir 92134 X 2,862,448 12/58 Belding 91216 2,983,922 5/61 Juilfs 92-434 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,117,119 5/56 France.

SAMUEL LEVINE, Primary Examiner.

FRED E. ENGELTHALER, Examiner. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS, IN COMBINATION, MEANS DEFINING A FIRST CYLINDER, OPERATIVE MEANS IN SAID FIRST CYLINDER FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT THEREIN, AID OPERATIVE MEANS COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING A CYLINDER THEREIN, A PISTON RECIPROCABLE IN SAID SECOND CYLINDER, PISTON ROD MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PISTON FOR CONNECTION OF SAID PISTON EXTERNALLY OF THE OPERATIVE MEANS, A SLEEVE-SHAPED SLIDE IN SAID SECOND CYLINDER, SAID PISTON BEING DISPOSED IN SAID SLIDE, SAID SLEEVE, SAID PISTON AND SAID OPERATIVE MEANS DEFINING A PRESSURE CHAMBER INTERNALLY OF SAID SLEEVE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE THEREIN PRINCIPALLY IN A DIRECTION FOR IMPARTING MOVEMENT IN A GIVEN DIRECTION TO SAID OPERATIVE MEANS, SAID OPERATIVE MEANS BEING BIASED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID GIVEN DIRECTION, MEANS TO APPLY FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID PRESSURE CHAMBER TO APPLY PRESSURE PRINCIPALLY TO SAID PRESSURE CHAMBER IN SAID GIVEN 